Functional Impairments Linked to Difficulties with Lower Body Tasks

While bending down and kneeling are fundamental tasks of daily living, the ability to perform these tasks may be compromised by decreased muscle strength. Allon Goldberg, from Wayne State University (Michigan, USA), and colleagues studied a group of community-dwelling older adults, average age 75.5 years, 27 of whom experience difficulty with stooping/crouching/kneeling (SCK) and 21 of whom did not.  The team tested the subjects for leg and trunk strength and functional mobility, measured isometric strength at the trunk, hip, knee, and ankle, and factored in body weight and height. Compared with older adults with no SCK difficulty, those with SCK difficulty had significant decreases in normalized trunk extensor, knee extensor, and ankle dorsiflexor and plantar-flexor strength.  Additionally, because stooping/crouching/kneeling difficulty correlated with measures of functional balance and falls, the researchers urge that rehabilitation or intervention programs address deficits in self-reported performance in stooping, crouching, or kneeling.